Morton, Illinois: The Pumpkin Capital of the World

Nestled in the heart of the Illinois River Valley, Morton not only offers some of the best in Illinois living, it is also home to the Nestlé USA/Libby’s plant that produces over 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin market – effectively making Morton “The Pumpkin Capital of the World.”

Opened in 1925, the Libby’s pumpkin plant has exclusively processed pumpkins since 1970. In 1967, the local Libby’s pumpkin plant celebrated the beginning of the pumpkin harvest and canning season with the first-ever Morton Pumpkin Festival. It was not until 1978 that then-Illinois Governor Jim Thompson signed a proclamation declaring Morton the pumpkin capital of the world.

Today, the town continues to celebrate their accolade through the annual Morton Pumpkin Festival, which includes over 30 special events and venues organized by more than 1,500 volunteers. Each year, the festival brings in an estimated 75,000 visitors from around the state and members of the Morton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Pumpkin Festival Advisory Committee all gather to oversee the festival’s activities.

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The 10 best fall hiking spots in the state!

Illinois has plenty to offer – whether it is the rich culture, delicious food or scenery, there is something for everyone. It is no secret that fall is around the corner with the trees starting to turn to beautiful hues of yellows and reds, displaying the natural beauty of our state. This week, we have compiled a list of the 10 BEST hiking trails to visit in the fall months!

1. Starved Rock and Sandstone Point Overlook Trail: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
2. Dells Canyon and Bluff Trail: Matthiessen State Park (Oglesby)
3. Garden of the Gods Observation Trail: Shawnee National Forest (Near Harrisburg)
4. Little Grand Canyon Trail: Shawnee National Forest (Pomona)
5. Waterfall Glen Trail: Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve (Darien)
6. Eagle Cliff Overlook and La Salle Canyon: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
7. Sag Valley Yellow Trail Loop: Swallow Cliff Woods (Near Palos Park)
8. Saint Louis Canyon Trail: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
9. Pontiac Canyon, Wildcat Canyon and Beehive Overlook: Starved Rock State Park (Oglesby)
10. Indian Point Trail: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Near Harrisburg)

Starved Rock State Park has several locations on this list and brings in an estimated 3 million visitors annually from all over the world, cementing its place as one of the crown jewels of Illinois for its beauty. With an impressive 270 trails that total more than 700 miles in Illinois, we hope you have the chance to visit one of these hiking trails and enjoy the nice weather!  

Celebrating 10 years of I Like Illinois

For 10 years, “I Like Illinois” has been providing an alternate view of our great state by sharing events, celebrating holidays, and highlighting all the amazing things Illinois has to offer.

Illinois has many astonishing qualities – from a boasting state fair, to farm land and cityscapes – there is something here for everyone. In celebration, here are some of our top 10 stories over the last 10 years about what we like here in Illinois:

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Illinois named nationwide leader in innovative education

In a recent study analyzing 14 key metrics demonstrating innovative educational practices, Illinois ranked fifth — establishing it as a leader in innovative education.

The metrics included factors such as remote learning accessibility and project-based learning, which prepares students for the real world while in school and improves their creativity and flexibility. Other factors included the number of schools in each state offering Advanced Placement courses, the number of universities with test-optional policies, the number of education charities in each state, and how many resource center awards each state has received.

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